341 •(CRIME)
Police Department album with 88 scarce full standing photographs of Chicago-based hoodlums accused of an assortment of crimes, including robbery, theft, murder, con games, assault, grand auto larceny, or rape, photographed before a curtained backdrop.
Many of the photographs depict before and after studies of tough men in fedoras or caps and overcoats, and fancy suits or workclothes; the subjects are ordinary-looking and macho men whose expressions range from amused befuddlement to outright disdain. Silver prints, the images measuring 6x9¼ inches (15.2x23.5 cm.), mounted recto only, the sheets slightly larger, the page or mount 9x11 inches (22.9x27.9 cm.), with a typewritten carbon copy of their "wrap" sheet below the photograph. Folio, cloth, ¼ leather, twin-bolt binding. 1941-50

[3,000/4,500]

A rare album with larger mug shots of criminals who are standing (versus the more typical head shot). The prints provide fuller and richer details about the suspect, including his body language, demeanor, and style of dress along with images of his "posse." Standing mug shots were not associated with line ups. Everyone who was arrested together was photographed together. In this way policemen were able to recognize criminals based on their body type and fashion sense, and their known associates.